Clutch control mechanism



March v14, 1933. J. HAUK CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 3l, 1931 Gttorneg 5 AMauth 14, 1933. J. HAUK I CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3l, 1931 3 SQee'ts-Sheet 2 March `14, 1933. l 1, HAUK i 1,901,597

CLUTCH CONTROL NIIK'IHANISM Filed oct. 51, 1951 s sheetslsheet 5 Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH HAUK, or sHoREWoon, WISCONSIN, nssIGNoR To PHILIP c. READ, or MILWAUKEE, WIsooNsIN CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANISVM Application filed October 31, 1931.

The invention relates to clutches. A

The general object of the invention is to associate with a clutch, a mechanism for automatically disengaging the clutch when 5 the load reaches a previously determined eX- cessive value, whereby under these conditions to disconnect the driven member from the driving member. More particularly the in'- vention is designed to provide a clutch release mechanism in which the parts controlled by the excess of the load are positivelyV operated and preferably by a cam action which on operation acts through the clutch shifter to release the clutch. f

The invention further consists in the Several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims Vat the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a detail vertical view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and of Fig. 3 respectively, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device embodying the invention as viewed along the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l,

Referring to thev drawings, the numeral4 designates a drive member or shaft to which a clutch disc member 5 is secured by a key 6 and upon which shaft a clutch disc member 7 for the driven element is Ajournalled through the bushing 8.. The clutch disc 7 has a clutch platev or annular disc 9 :Secured thereto by bolts 10 and provided with suitable facing material 11 on opposite sides thereof, the flange portion 12 of the element 5 adapted to engage one of these faces while a clutch plate 13, slidably mounted on the hub of the member 5, is adapted to be moved'into engagement with the other of the faces 11. For accomplishing this movement, cam members 14 are secured to shafts 15 mounted in suitable bearings on a collar 16 having adjustable threaded engagement at 17 with the hub of the member 5, said shafts 15 also having lever arms 18 secured thereto with which the cone shaped face 19 of a clutch control member or shifter 20, slidably mounted on the shaft 4 and keyed thereto by key 6 cooper- 0 fates. The levers 15 have curved end portions serial No. 572,262.

21 which when the clutch is engaged are adapted to be releasably held or maintained in engagement by registry with an annular curved groove22 in the clutch collar or shifter. 20. Coil springs 23 are associated with 55 the arms 18 and the shafts 15 .to force the levers 18 downwardly into a position for locking engagement with the recess 2,2, as Shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but which on a release of the clutch collar 19 either 60 through manual or other control as hereinafter described causes the cam 14 to turn in a radially outward direction and thus release their pressure from the clutch disc 13. When however the parts are as shown inthe vposition of Fig. l1 with the facings 11 on the i disc 9 ofthe driven member 7 clamped between the clutch member 12 and its associated plate 13 the shaft'4 will throughl this clutch connection drive the member 7. It is to be understood that the clutch mechanism just `described is shown more particularly for illustrative purposes for one form of clutch to which the release mechanism embodying the invention may be applied.

kA power transmitting member, forming a part of the driven element, is hereshown in the form of a pulley 24 whose hub 25 is provided with a bearing bushing 26 mounted on the hub of the driven member 7 and there 89 y may be relative rotativemovement between the part 7 of the driven element andsaid pulley. i i i A control cam 27 is secured by a key 28 to the hub ofthe member7 and, as` shown in .8,5 Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with oppositely disposed locking recesses 29 adapted when the clutch is engaged to receive rollers 30 carried by pins 31 mounted on the arms 32 ofk levers 33 j ournalled intermediate their ends 90 on pins 34, which are mounted in bosses 35 on the front face of the web of the pulley 24. The rollers 30 are urged to and normally retained in the locking position in each instance by a spring 36 interposed between the socket- 9.5 Yed .end 37 fof each lever 33 and aseat member 38 engaged by a threaded bolt 39 adjustably mounted in a lug 40 on the face of the pulley and held in adjusted position by -a lock nut 41. Withthe construction thus far described lfpro'ectsand is free to work.

when the clutch is in engage-ment, the levers 32 which are carried by the power transmitting member 24 rotate with the driven member 7 through the releasable locking connection between these levers 32 and the cam member 27 Awhich is lined to the driven member 7.

If however the load should become excessive, tending to reduce the speed of the member 24 relative to the. driven member 7 then the cam l27 will rotate relative to the pulley 24 and hence cause the surfaces of the recesses 29 to act to cam the rollers 30 out of saidrecesses and in so doing swing the arms 32 of the levers 33 outwardly against the pressures exerted by the springs 36. The outward movementsof the levers 32 are transmitted by the connections now to be described to the clutchshifting collar or control member 20 so as to shift said collar toward the right along the driven shaft 4 as viewed in Fig. 1 and thus disengage the clutch.

Referring to Figs. l and 3 the clutch shifting collar 2O has a spider 42 mounted the-reonrwith its hub secured torotate therewith, asbyV means of a set screw 43, the arms of the spider carrying a conically inclined annular kring portion 44 which is adapted to be engaged by the cam shaped ends 45 of levers 46, one of these levers cooperating with one of the levers in each instance. Each lever46 is pivotally mounted on a pin 4'? carried ina pivot fitting 48 secured by bolts 49 to the web of the pulley 24 which is provided with a sloiL 50 Vthrough which the arm 51 of the lever 46 rEhe end 52 of the arm 51 is adapted to engage the curved end 53 of the lever 33 so that when as previously described the levers 33 move outwardly, the ends 5l of the levers 46 will be moved outwardly, thus forcing the cam faces 45 lof said levers 46 inwardly, which, acting on the Vcone shaped portion 44 of the spider 42, will shift said spider and hence the clutch collar y20 outwardly toward the right to disengage the clutch. It will be noted'that by the adl justment of the tension of the springs 86 that the part 24, carrying the levers 33, may be moved out of locking relation with the cam 27 and hence the part 7 to release the clutch lundery any desired predetermined force exertedby the load being driven.

For putting the clutch in engagement any ,suitable means may be employed and for the purposes of illustration, I have shown the clutch collar 2O provided with a sectional ring collar 54 secured to the collar 2Oy by bolts 55 and having diametrically disposed pins 56 engaged by the forked end 57 of a shifter fork 58 pivotally mounted on a pin 59 carried by a pivot bracket 60 adapted to be secured toany vsuitable liXed support, this shifted member Amembers together, and means for operating said clutchand maintaining the drive be tween said members including a shiftable control member, of a power transmitting member mounted to rotate with'and relativeY to said driven member, a locking and release cam connected t-o said driven member, and means on said power transmitting member operable by said caml on relative movement between saidlast named member and said driven lmember to shift said shiftable control member to release said clutch.

2. The combination with a drive member, a driven member, a clutch for connecting said members together, andk means foroperating said clutch and maintainingl the drive between said members including a shiftable control member, of a power transmitting member mounted torotate with and relative to said driven member, a cam connected to said driven member, means on said' power transmitting member operable by said cam on relative movement between said last named member and said driven member to shift said shiftable'control member'to release said clutch, and adjustable tension means acting on said last named means to determine the condition of load at which said cam operates to release said clutch.

3. The combination with a drive member, a driven member, a clutch for connecting said members together, and means for operatto lsaid driven member, a releasable locking vconnection between'said power transmitting member and said driven member, and means operable through said connectiononits yrelease toshift' said shiftable control member to release theY clutch.

4. The combination witha drive member,

va driven member, a clutch for connecting ksaid 'members together, and means for operating said clutch and maintaining the drive between said members including a shiftable control member, of a powerk transmitting member mounted to rotate with and relativeV to said driven member, a releasable looking connection between said last named members including a camion said driven member and levers on said power transmitting member, l

means connecting said levers with said shiftable control member to actuate the same on relative movement between said cam and said levers, and means determining the condition of the load at which said relative movement occurs.

5. The combination of a drive member, a driven member, a clutch for connecting said members together, and means for operating said clutch and maintaining the drive between said members including a shiftable control member, of a power transmitting member mounted to rotate with and relative to said driven member, a releasable locking connection between said last named members including a cam on said driven member and levers on said power transmitting member engaging said cam, adjustable spring means acting on said levers, and means connecting said levers with said shiftable control member to actuate the same on relative movement between said cam and said levers when the load is in excess of the tension of said spring means.

6. The combination with a drive member, a driven member, a clutch for connecting said members together, and means for operating said clutch and maintaining the drive between said members including a shiftable control member, of a power transmitting member mounted to rotate with and relative to said driven member, a tensioned releasable driving connection between said last named members including tensioned levers mounted on said power transmitting member, other levers mounted on said last named member engaged and moved by said first named levers, when said driving connection is released, and operatively connected to said shiftable control member to shift the same.

In testimony whereof, I aihx my signature JOSEPH HAUK 

